CONTROVERSIAL ART

Personally I think modern art is beautiful! Even when placed in historic locations. Some of the works have created great controversy. Thinking of Paris,.. the glass pyramid (Pei 1989) is definitely still one of the sore spots to lots of Parisians.

One of my favourite places in Paris is the Palais Royal. This palace was built in 1629 for the Cardinal de Richelieu and given to Louis XIII after his death. It consists in two interesting parts : the palace itself and the galleries surrounding it. The old gardens and the galleries (hosting luxury shops) have always been a haven of peace. In fact I think they still are!

But then… in 1986 French sculptor/artist Daniel Buren arrived, and decorated the main courtyard, with access via a vaulted passage, with a set of 260 unequal sections of columns, all striped black and white. This work of art caused such a polemic that work was interrupted. Finally, François Léotard, Minister of Culture and Communication in 1986, relaunched the project which was completed in 1995 and is now totally part of the Parisian landscape as the columns have been found useful for more than one purpose : childs games, seats, ...

The Palais Royal houses the Council of the state, the Constitutional Council, the ministry of Culture and the Comedie Française. Only the courtyard and gardens are open to the public.